Safety apparatus in power press machine

ABSTRACT

A safety apparatus is mounted to the side of a bed of a power press machine on which an operator is positioned for ensuring safety of the operator of the power press machine. The safety apparatus includes a table, for supporting the front end portion of a workpiece, fitted so as to be movable toward and away from the bed at substantially the same height as a fixed mold set to the bed side and on the side of the bed where the operator is positioned. A pair of two-hand operation type switches are fitted to the front side portion of the table with a gap between them, and are operated by both hands of the operator. A deactivating switch is provided for deactivating the pair of two-hand operation type switches when a movable mold set to slide portion side of the power press machine approaches to within predetermined distance of the fixed mold set to the bed side to provide a safety state. Thus, the slide portion is allowed to operate only when the pair of two-hand operation type switches are operated by both hands of the operator and are turned on.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a safety apparatus in a power press machine, which is fitted to the side of a bed of a power press machine on which an operator is positioned, so as to insure safety of the operator.

Press work with a power press machine is extremely dangerous work which might lead to permanent troubles for the operator. Therefore, according to a law, the safety apparatus must be fitted to the power press machine. A ray type, a two-hand operation type and a guard type safety apparatus are typical examples of the safety apparatus of the power press machine, and all of them have been widely used. However, they are not free from the problems inherent thereto and are not yet entirely satisfactory.

The ray type safety apparatus comprises a projector and a light receiver, detects a dangerous state when a part of the body of the operator intercepts the rays of light, and stops the operation of a slide portion. The law stipulates that the safety apparatus must effectively operate through the whole stroke of the slide portion of the press machine, and its fitting position is limited, too.

However, when the ray type safety apparatus is fitted to the fitting position stipulated by the law and the press work is conducted, not only the body of the operator but also a part of his clothes cut off (i.e. interfere with) the rays of light. As a result, the operation of the press machine is stopped, or the operator must be spaced away from the press machine by a predetermined distance to execute the work. In other words, safety is improved at the expense of working efficiency.

Depending on the content of the press work, there is the case where the operator cannot help holding a part of the workpiece with his hand to conduct the press work. In this case, a part of the body of the operator cuts off the rays of light and the ray type safety apparatus starts operating.

Further, when the workpiece is bent, no problem occurs when a flat sheet-like operation is simply bent into an L shape by one bending workpiece, but when the flat sheet-like work is bent around its four sides in the same direction to obtain a box-like shape, the rays of light are sometimes cut off by the portions which have been bent already. Accordingly, depending upon the shape of the product produced by bending the workpiece, the ray type safety apparatus cannot be used in some cases.

As described above, the ray type safety apparatus involves various problems in the actual press operation.

In the two-hand operation type safety apparatus, the slide portion of the press machine cannot be operated unless switches such as push buttons are simultaneously operated by both hands. Moreover, each time one of the hands is removed off from the switch during the operation of the slide portion, the slide portion stops, or the slide portion is caused to stop at each process step. Thus the operation cannot be re-started unless both hands of the operator are removed from the switches for another process step.

To further improve safety, there is a system which combines the two-hand operation type switches with a foot switch. In any case, the bending work cannot be carried out by one operator in the case of bending workpiece in which a part of the work must be gripped by the hand. In this case, the content of the bending work is greatly limited and the working efficiency drops considerably.

The guard type safety apparatus is literally equipped with a guard for preventing the hands of the operator from entering a molding portion of the press machine. The guard is produced in such a manner as to correspond to the shapes of the workpiece and the shaped article, and is fitted to the molding portion. In this system, the guard which has been produced in advance so as to correspond to the workpiece and to the shaped article must be fitted again whenever the workpiece and the shaped article change. Therefore efficiency of the process is low, and the cost of production of the guard also increases overall cost.

For these reasons, various modifications are made by individual users in the ray type and two-hand type safety apparatuses when using them, and these modifications result in a large number of press accidents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a first object of the present invention to improve safety without lowering efficiency of the press work by making it possible to operate a pair of two-hand operation type switches while the workpiece is gripped.

It is a second object of the present invention to expand the range of the press work by disposing a large number of pin holes in a table for supporting thereon a workpiece, which is movable with respect to a bed of the power press machine, and removably fitting various machining jigs to the table by utilizing these pin holes.

It is a third object of the present invention to improve safety of the press work by preventing a part of the body of the operator from entering the molding portion of the power press machine by utilizing plate which is fitted to the table by utilizing the pin holes described above.

The present invention provides an operator-safety apparatus for use fitted to the side of a bed of a power press machine on which the operator is positioned. The apparatus includes a table for supporting the front end portion of a workpiece, fitted so as to be movable toward and away from the bed at the same height as a fixed mold set to the bed side and on the side of the bed where the operator is positioned. A pair of two-hand operation type switches fitted to the front side portion of the table with a minimum gap set between them, and these are operated by both hands of the operator. A deactivating switch is provided for deactivating the pair of two-hand operation type switches when a movable mold set to a slide portion side of the power press machine approaches to within a predetermined distance of the fixed mold set to the bed side to provide a safety state. The slide portion is allowed to operate only when the pair of two-hand operation type switches are operated by both hands of the operator and are turned ON.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a safety apparatus for a power press machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the safety apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the safety apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the safety apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along a line 5--5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view in a state where a table 4 is removed from a pair of table support members 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along a line 7--7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a portion of a push button switch S₁.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along a line 9--9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a part of the table 4 and a work receiving pin P₁.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a work receiving pin P₂.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a work receiving pin P₃.

FIG. 13 is a plan view in a state where bending work of a workpiece W₁ has started.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the work W₁.

FIG. 15 is a side view in a state where a final first bending portion B₁ of the workpiece is bent.

FIG. 16 is a side view in a state where an initial second bending portion B₂ of the workpiece W₁ is bent.

FIG. 17 is a side view in a state where an initial third bending portion B₃ of the workpiece W₁ is bent.

FIG. 18 is a side view in a state where a final second bending portion B₂ of the workpiece W₁ is bent.

FIG. 19 is a side view in a state where a last third bending portion B₃ of the workpiece W₁ is bent.

FIG. 20 is a plan view of the workpiece W₁.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a box body formed by bending the workpiece W₁.

FIG. 22 is a plan view in a state where a side Gauge 28 is set to the table 4, positioning is made in a transverse direction of a workpiece W₂ and press machining is conducted.

FIG. 23 is a side view of the workpiece W₂.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the side gauge 28.

FIG. 25 is a partial enlarged view of an deactivating switch S₃.

FIG. 26 is an operation circuit diagram of the safety apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view in a state where a guard plate 35 operated by an air cylinder 33 is mounted to the table 4 of the safety apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a side view in a state where the guard plate 35 described above is fitted to the table 4 of the safety apparatus according to the present invention and a press operation is carried out.

FIG. 29 is a partial exploded side view mainly showing the fitting state of the guard plate 35 to the table 4.

FIG. 30 is a substantial front view in a state where the guard plate 35 described above is fitted to the table 4 of the safety apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 31 is an operation circuit diagram for operating the guard plate 35 use of the air cylinder 33.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view in a state where a single guard plate 36 is fitted to the table 4 of the safety apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of the single guard plate 36.

FIG. 34 is a substantial front view in a state where the single guard plate 36 is fitted to the table 4 of the safety apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a side view in a state where the single guard plate 36 is fitted to the table 4 of the safety apparatus according to the present invention and the press workpiece is carried out.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in further detail with reference to embodiments thereof. A press machine to which the safety apparatus according to the present invention is adapted has a construction having a quick stop mechanism.

In FIGS. 1 to 4, a pair of guide bars 2 are horizontally supported on a bed 1 of a power press machine with a predetermined gap between them on the side where an operator is positioned. A slider 3 is fitted to each of these guide bars 2. A table support member 5 is integrally fitted to the inside of each slider 3 in such a manner as to support a table 4 from below and to be capable of adjusting the height of the table 4.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the table support member 5 comprises an outer cylinder 6 integrally fitted to the slider 3 and an inner cylinder 7 fitted to the inside of the outer cylinder 6 upper half portion of an adjustment bolt 8 is integrally welded to the inner cylinder 7, and its lower end portion is meshed with a female screw member 9 fixed to the inner periphery of the lower end portion of the outer cylinder 6. An engagement hole 8a is defined at the upper end portion of the adjustment bolt 8, and a pin insertion hole 7a is formed at the upper end portion of the inner cylinder 7.

A connecting rod 11 is so disposed at a portion on the back of the table 4 immediately above the table support member 5 as to rotatably protrude downward, and an engagement protuberance 11a meshing with the engagement hole 8a of the adjustment bolt 8 is disposed at the lower end portion of this connecting rod 11. A tool insertion hole 11b for inserting a tool for rotating the connecting rod 11 is disposed on the upper end surface of the connecting rod 11, and a pin insertion hole 11c is disposed at the central portion of this tool insertion hole 11b.

The table support members 5 are integrally connected through a connecting member 12. The connecting rods 11 protruding from the back of the table 4 are fitted into the inner cylinders 7 of the table support members 5, respectively, and the engagement protuberances 11a are fitted into, and meshed with, the engagement holes 8a of the adjustment bolts 8, respectively. Furthermore, the connecting pin 14 is fitted into the pin insertion hole 7a of the inner cylinder 7 and the pin insertion hole 11c of the connecting rod 11. In this way, the table 4 can be removably fitted to the pair of table support members 5. The table 4 can be removed from the pair of table support members 5 by the mere steps of removing each connecting pin 14 and then lifting up the table 4.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 8 and 9, T grooves 15 are formed along the entire portion of the end surface of the table 4 on the front side other than at its center portion, and a head 16a of a T bolt 16 is fitted into the T groove 15 on each side. A switch fitting plate 18 can be fixed to an arbitrary position by this T bolt 16 and a nut 17.

The switch fitting plate 18 has an L shape, and a push button switch S₁ of a double-hand operation system is fitted to one of the ends of the switch fitting plate 18. An engagement pin 19 is so fitted to the other end as to protrude inward. In other words, a pair of right and left push button switches S₁ are disposed, and can be moved to, and fixed at, arbitrary positions by loosening the nut 17 and moving the switch fitting plate 18 to the right and left. Further, the position of the push button switch S₁ can be raised with respect to the table 4 as indicated by two-dot-chain line in FIG. 9 by removing the nut 17, then turning substantially 90° the switch fitting plate 18, inserting the engagement pin 19 into the T groove 15 and fixing the switch fitting plate 18 to the front surface of the table 4.

The reason why the position of the push button switch S₁ to the table 4 is elevated is to cope with a bending workpiece having a flange portion as will be described later. The minimum gap between the pair of right and left push button switches S₁ is such that the switches cannot be simultaneously operated by one hand of the operator and the gap is about 300 mm.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 10, a large number of pin holes 21 are formed at the depth of the table 4 with the standing position of the operator as the reference. Work receiving pins P₁ to P₃ having various shapes (see FIGS. 10 to 12) to cope with the bending workpiece having the flange portion or side gauges 28 (see FIG. 24) for positioning the workpiece in the transverse direction, or other machining Jigs, are removably fitted into these pin holes 21.

In FIGS. 13 and 14, a V-shaped die 22 as a lower mold is set to the upper surface of the bed 1 of the power press machine, and a punch 24 as an upper mold is set to a slide portion 23 (see FIG. 25) disposed above the bed 1.

A foot switch S₂ operated by the foot of the operator is disposed at the front part of the bed 1 on which the safety apparatus according to the present invention is disposed, and as shown in the operation circuit diagram of FIG. 28, the power press machine is constituted in such a manner that it can be operated only when the pair of push button switches S₁ are pushed and turned ON and moreover, when the foot switch S₂ is pushed and turned ON.

The safety apparatus according to the present invention is equipped with an deactivating switch for deactivating the pair of push button switches S₁ when the punch 24 lowers and approaches within a predetermined distance of the die 22 to provide the safety state. In other words, as shown in FIG. 25, a limit switch LS₁ functioning as the invalid switch is disposed in the proximity of the slide portion 23, and when the slide portion 23 lowers, a dog 25 provided to the slide portion 23 actuates the limit switch LS₁. The position of the dog 25 can be adjusted so that the operation start position of the limit switch LS₁ can be finely adjusted.

Next, the explanation will be given for the case where a workpiece W₁ shaped by punching as shown in FIG. 20 is bent into a box shape shown in FIG. 21. First, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the insertion portions 26 of the workpiece receiving pins P₁ are fitted into a plurality of pin holes 21 disposed in the table 4, and a tool (not shown) is fitted into the tool insertion hole 11b of the connecting rod 11 from the upper surface of the table 4. Next, the table 4 is lowered by turning the connecting rod 11 in a predetermined direction, and adjustment is then carried out so that the reception surface of a plurality of workpiece receiving pins P₁ fitted into the pin holes 21 at their insertion portion 26 takes the same level as the die 22 set to the bed 1.

The gap between the switch fitting plates 18 to which the pair of push button switches S₁ are set to a gap which can grip the workpiece W₁, and the switch fitting plates 18 are turned by a predetermined angle from the normal state of use so that grip of the workpiece W₁ and the operation of the push button switches S₁ can be simultaneously made. (In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the push button switches S₁ exist at the highest position when the switch fitting plate 18 is turned by 90° from the normal state of use.)

In this way, the workpiece W₁ is supported by a plurality of workpiece receiving pins P₁ and the die 22, and the distal end surface of the workpiece W₁ is butted against the back gauge 27 for the purpose of positioning. In this state, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the front side of the workpiece W₁ is gripped and its bending is carried out under the posture where each push button switch S₁ can be operated by both hands of the operator.

In other words, while the operator grips the end portion on front side of the workpiece W₁ with both hands, the pair of push button switches S₁ are pushed and turned ON by both hands and the foot switch S₁ is pushed and turned ON by his foot. Then, a signal for actuating the power press machine is generated from the safety apparatus, the punch 24 as the upper mold lowers, and one of the end portions of the workpiece W₁ is bent.

In this instance, as the punch 24 lowers by a predetermined distance and if one of the hands of the operator comes off from the push button switch S₁ before the safety state where the limit switch LS₁ as the deactivating switch operates, the actuation circuit of the press machine is opened and punch 24 is stopped instantly. In this way, safety of the operator is insured.

The above will be explained on the basis of the operation circuit diagram of FIG. 26 of the safety apparatus according to the present invention. When the pair of push button switch S₁ are turned ON, the relay R₁ is energized and its a contact is closed. Here, if the foot switch S₂ is kept OFF, the relay R₅ is energized and its a contact is closed. Accordingly, because the relay R₃ is energized, the relay R₂ is self-held while the pair of push button switches S₁ are ON. When the foot switch S₁ is turned ON under this state, the relay R₄ is energized and each open/close signal of its a and b contacts is inputted to the actuation circuit of the power press machine, so that the press machine is actuated.

When either one of the pair of push button switches S₁ is turned OFF before the limit switch LS₁ as the deactivating switch is turned ON after the actuation of the press machine, the relay R₁ is turned OFF, each of the relays R₃ and R₄ is also turned OFF and the press machine stops. When either one of the pair of push button switches S₁ is turned OFF after the limit switch LS₁ as the deactivating switch is turned ON, the relay R₂ is turned ON, the relay R₃ is self-held, and the relay R₄ is not turned OFF. Accordingly, the press machine maintains its operation.

When the foot switch S₂ is turned OFF during the operation of the press machine, the relay R₄ is turned OFF. Accordingly, the press machine stops without fail.

As described above, both hands of the operator always operate the pair of push button switches S₁ during the dangerous state after the operation of the press machine but before the operation of the deactivating switch (limit switch LS1), and safety of the operator can be thus insured. When the foot switch S₂ operated by the foot of the operator is disposed as in the embodiment described above, the press machine can be operated only when the pair of push button switches S₁ and the foot switch S₂ are all turned ON. Therefore, safety of the operator can be further enhanced and at, the same time, a construction, which prevents the operation of the press machine when only the foot switch S₁ is erroneously operated before the operation of the press machine, can be accomplished.

After the first bending portion B₁ at the four corners of the workpiece W₁ is finished as shown in FIG. 15, the workpiece W₁ is supported between a plurality of work receiving pins P₁ and the die 22 while the flange-like first bending portion B₁ after bending is kept so as to face downward. The inside portion of each first bending portion B₁ is bent under this state in the opposite direction so as to form the second bending portion B₂, as shown in FIG. 16. Thereafter, the third bending portion B₃ is formed inside the second bending portion B₂ as shown in FIGS. 17 to 19, and the sheet-like workpiece W₁ can thus be bent and shaped into the box shape.

During the bending workpiece described above, the table 4 is allowed to advance with the progress of machining. Because the front side of the workpiece W₁ is supported by a plurality of workpiece receiving pins P₁ fitted into the pin holes 21 of the table 4, the workpiece W₁ can be supported without any problem even when the flange-like first bending portion B₁ faces downward as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.

When the workpiece is simply bent, the front side of the workpiece may be directly supported by the table 4 without using the workpiece receiving pins.

Next, explanation will be given for the case where a rectangular workpiece W₂ is press-machined by positioning it in both depth-wise and transverse directions, with reference to FIGS. 22 to 24. Two insertion pins 29 which are to be fitted into the pin holes 21 disposed in the table 4 are integrally formed in the bottom surface of the side gauge 28 shown in FIG. 24. As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, two insertion pins 29 of the side gauge 28 are fitted into the pin holes 21 of the table 4.

The table 4 is set at the same height as the die 22 and each push button switch S₁ is kept at the normal position as indicated by a solid line in FIG. 8. Under this state, the distal end surface of the workpiece W₂ is butted against the back gauge 27' disposed at the depth of the die 22 and its side surface is butted against the side gauge 28 set to the table 4. In this way, the workpiece W₂ can be positioned in both depth-wise and transverse directions. One of the push button switches S₁ is operated by the hand gripping the front side of the workpiece W₂ and press workpiece is carried out.

The foregoing embodiments represent the case where the front end side of the workpiece is supported by the workpiece receiving pins P₁ to P₃ by fitting the work receiving pins P₁ to P₃ into the pin holes 21 of the table 4 and the case where positioning in the transverse direction of the workpiece is effected by fitting the side gauge 28 into the similar pin hole 21. However, various machining jigs can be fitted into the pin holes 21 of the table 4 in accordance with the content of the press work.

As described above, in the safety apparatus according to the present invention, a pair of push button switches S₁ are fitted to the front portion of the table 4 for supporting the front side of the workpiece. Accordingly, the front end side of the workpiece can be gripped while the pair of push button switches S₁ are operated, and one operator alone can safely execute the press workpiece without lowering the working efficiency.

When various machining jigs are fitted to the table 4 by utilizing a large number of pin holes 21 disposed in the table 4, the operations peculiar to press machining such as support of the workpiece having a flange portion facing downward, positioning in the transverse direction of the workpiece, and so forth, can be carried out simply and easily and the range of the press work can be expanded.

Next, the case where a guard type safety apparatus is removably fitted to the table 4 will be explained as another utilization method of the pin holes 4 disposed in the table 4. It is contimplated that embodiment will insure safety of the operator when the operator feeds and removes the workpieces by inserting and removing a part of his body into and from the molding portion of the press machine.

In FIGS. 27 to 30, a fitting portion 31a having a ]-shaped section is disposed at one of the end portions of a guard plate guide plate 31 in its longitudinal direction and this fitting portion 31a is fitted from the back side of the table 4. Two pins 32 are fitted into the pin hole 31b disposed in the fitting portion 31a and into the pin hole 21 described above, and in this way, the guard plate guide plate 31 is fitted to the table 4.

An air cylinder 33 is supported by a cylinder support portion 31c mounted at one of the end portions of the guard plate guide plate 31 in its longitudinal direction. The lower end portion of the guard plate 35 comprising a transparent acrylic resin plate is fitted into the guide groove 34 defined in the guard plate guide plate 31, and the distal end portion of a rod 33a of the air cylinder 33 is interconnected to one of the side end surfaces of the guard plate 35.

Accordingly, the guard plate 35 is caused to reciprocate in a direction orthogonally crossing the moving direction of the table 4 as the rod 33a of the air cylinder 33 moves back and forth, and the front surface of the die 22' disposed on the bed 1 of the power press machine is opened and closed by the guard plate 35.

While the guard plate 35 is open, the operator directly feeds and removes the workpiece W₂ to and from the die 22. Limit switches LS₁₂, LS₁₃ for confirming closure and opening of the guard plate, respectively, are disposed at both moving end portions of this guard plate 35 (see FIG. 30).

FIG. 31 is an operation circuit diagram for operating the guard type safety apparatus described above, and the operation of this guard type safety apparatus will be explained with reference to this diagram. Incidentally, reference symbols LS₁₁ and LS₁₄ represent limit switches for detecting the ascension end and descension end of the slide portion 23 of the power press machine, respectively.

First, when the slide portion 23 of the power press machine exists at the ascension end portion, the limit switch LS₁₁ for detecting the ascension end is turned ON and the guard plate 35 is kept closed. When the guard plate opening confirmation button S₂ is pushed under this state, the relay R₁₄ is energized and a self-holding circuit is formed. Therefore, the a contact of the relay R₁₄ connected in parallel with the b contact of the relay R₁₃ is closed, and the relay R₁₂ is energized. Due to this energized relay R₁₂, its a contact is closed, the solenoid 33b of the air cylinder 33 is energized, and the guard plate 35 is opened.

When this guard plate 35 opens completely, the limit switch LS₁₃ for confirming opening of the guard plate is opened, and the relay R₁₄ is deenergized. However, because the limit switch LS₁₂ for confirming closure of the guard plate remains open, the relay R₁₃ is deenergized, its b contact is closed, and the relay R₁₂ is kept energized. Accordingly, the guard plate 35 remains open.

When the operator pushes the pair of push button switches S₁ of the double-hand operation type disposed on the table 4 under this state, the b contact of the relay R₄ (see FIG. 26) constituting the operation circuit of the safety apparatus according to the present invention opens, and the relay R₁₂ is deenergized. As a result, the a contact of the relay R₁₂ opens the solenoid 33b of the air cylinder 33 is deenergized, the guard plate 35 is closed, and the limit switch LS₁₂ for confirming closure of the guard plate is turned ON.

Here, if the pair of push button switches S₁ are turned OFF while the guard plate 35 is being closed but the limit switch LS₁₂ is turned ON, the guard plate 35 is again opened. Accordingly, the push button switch S₁ must be kept pushed until the limit switch LS₁₂ is turned ON (until the guard plate 35 is completely closed).

When the guard plate 35 is closed and the limit switch LS₁₂ is turned ON, the relay R₃ is energized and its b contact is turned OFF. As a result, the relay R₁₂ is turned OFF and the solenoid 33b of the air cylinder 33 is not energized any more. Accordingly, even when the push button switch S₁ is turned OFF, the guard plate 35 is kept closed.

When the guard plate 35 is closed and the relay R₁₃ is energized, the a contact of the relay R₁₃ is closed and its signal is inputted to the actuation circuit of the power press machine. As a result, the press machine is operated. The slide portion 23 lowers, the limit switch LS₁₁ for detecting the ascension end is turned OFF, the limit switch LS₁₄ for detecting the descension end is turned ON at the descension end of the slide portion 23, the relay R₁₄ is energized, and the self-holding circuit is formed. Accordingly, the a contact of the relay R₁₄ is closed, the slide portion 23 reaches the ascension end, the limit switch LS₁₁ is turned ON, the relay R₁₂ is energized and the guard plate 35 opens. Incidentally, reference symbol S₄ in FIG. 31 represents the switch for confirming closure of the guard plate.

As described above, the guard plate 35 is always closed during the operation of the power press machine. Therefore, a part of the body of the operator cannot enter the molding portion of the press machine and safety of the operator can be insured.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 32 to 35 executes machining of a sheet-like workpiece W₄ by removably fitting the single guard plate 36 to the table 4 by utilizing the pin holes 21 formed in the table 4, and so preventing a part of the body of the operator from entering the molding portion of the press machine.

In other words, the guard plate 36 comprising the transparent acrylic resin plate is integrally fitted into the groove portion of the upper surface of a receiving member 37, and a pair of pins 38 having a step portion is so implanted to the bottom surface of the receiving member 37 as to protrude therefrom. When the small diameter portion 38a of the pair of pins 38 is fitted into the pin hole 21 of the table 4, the guard plate 36 can be fitted to the table 4. Since the pair of pins 38 have the step portion, a predetermined gap 39 is defined between the upper surface of the table 4 and the lower surface of the receiving member 37 under this state as shown in FIG. 34.

The sheet-like workpiece W₄ is inserted into this gap 39 from the front side of the table 4 and its distal end portion is placed on the die 22 disposed on the bed 1. While the front end portion of the workpiece W₄ is supported by both hands of the operator, the pair of push button switches are operated and a predetermined operation is carried out. When this single guard plate 36 is used, the press machine may be so constituted as to be operated by only the operation of the foot switch S₂.

As described above, the sheet-like workpiece W₄ can be supplied to the portion of the die 22 from the gap 39 and because the front side portion of the die 22 is always covered with the guard plate 36 and a part of the body of the operator is prevented from entering the molding portion of the press machine, safety can be insured without inviting trouble for the press operation. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A safety apparatus, primarily mounted to the side of a bed of a power press machine on which an operator is positioned, for insuring safety of the operator of the power press machine, comprising:a table, for supporting the front end portion of a workpiece, fitted so as to be movable toward and away from the bed at substantially the same height as a fixed mold set to said bed side and on the side of said bed where the operator is positioned; a pair of two-hand operation type switches fitted to the front side portion of said table with a gap between them, and operated by both hands of the operator; and a deactivating switch for deactivating said pair of two-hand operation type switches when a movable mold set to a slide portion side of the power press machine approaches to within a predetermined distance of said fixed mold set to the bed side to provide a safety state; wherein the slide portion is allowed to operate only when said pair of two-hand operation type switches are operated by both hands of the operator and are turned ON.
 2. A safety apparatus according to claim 1, which further includes a foot switch operated by a foot of the operator, and wherein the slide portion of the power press machine can be operated only when said pair of two-hand operation type switches are operated by both hands of the operator and turned on and when said foot switch is operated and turned on.
 3. A safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pair of two-hand operation type switches are allowed to move only outward from positions corresponding to said minimum gap set between them.
 4. A safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said table can be fitted and removed to and from table support members.
 5. A safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a large number of pin holes are defined in said table.
 6. A safety apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a machining jig is removably fitted to said table by utilizing said pin holes.
 7. A safety apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a guard type safety apparatus, having a construction in which a guard plate moves back and forth in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of said table by the operation of an air cylinder, is fitted to said table by utilizing said pin holes.
 8. A safety apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said guard plate is removably fitted to said table by utilizing said pin holes with a gap for permitting the insertion of a sheet-like workpiece provided between said guard plate and the upper surface of said table. 